Rising Star Dorly Jean-Louis On The Five Things You Need To Shine In The Entertainment Industry
An Interview With Edward Sylvan
Take up space unapologetically. Be fearless. Be you! Pursue your dream. Be all in. You don’t need anyone’s permission to create content or do what you must to succeed in this biz. A few years ago I booked a lead role in Whole Lotto Love, an independent film. Like me, the heroine was determined, headstrong and resourceful. This role catapulted me to star in subsequent roles in a supporting or lead category.
As a part of our series about pop culture’s rising stars, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Canadian actress Dorly Jean-Louis.
You’ve seen her appearances in popular Netflix television series, award-winning shows and feature films. Dedicated to her craft, Dorly has come a long way since interning as an editorial assistant at CTV News. Her love for acting and telling stories on screen started when she was a little girl and evolved during her academic studies while starring in student films, music videos and volunteering as a reporter on campus television stations.
As a model, Dorly has been featured on billboards, magazines, and fashion catalogs. A versatile artist, she has also represented some of the world’s largest brands and global advertisers: Vichy, Neutrogena, Tide, Verizon, Samsung, Procter & Gamble, Anheuser-Busch, VISA and Johnson & Johnson, to name a few. Dorly is a talent to watch as she continues to build a promising career from Hollywood North, aka Toronto Canada!
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?
Thank you for having me! Well, I grew up in a conservative Seventh-Day Adventist Haitian household. So as a young girl, any artistic endeavor was solely undertaken for purposes deemed acceptable and presentable in church. Singing was applauded as long as I sang my heart out in the youth choir; acting was permissible as long as my performance was in a biblical play. A career in nursing, teaching or public service was encouraged at home so expressing any interest in an acting career back then would have been considered mundane. Yet it didn’t stop me from being fascinated, if not obsessed, by the artistry of Old Hollywood movies. I used to pretend I was the heroine and imagined myself on stage or in front of the camera reciting my lines. I kept quiet about my dream until I graduated from high school. That’s when I decided my post-graduate academic studies would be in journalism and eventually in acting.
Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?
Sure, my entry into the film business was fueled by my passion to tell stories on screen. When I graduated from my journalism program at Humber College in Toronto, I sent countless demo tapes, as most alumni did, to news stations hoping to secure a job as a reporter. It was during an internship at the Weather Network that a producer hinted that I should consider getting an agent to represent me since most on-air talent working there booked additional hosting gigs through their agent. Coincidentally, I had been looking for other options to get my foot in the door. So I took his advice and ran with it. I researched online what to include on my one-page resume. I also signed up for a beginner acting class. Then I scheduled my first headshot session with a photographer. The latter had a wealth of knowledge and industry experience. He suggested I submit my interest to a talent agency that repped both actors and models. He was convinced that I would be a good fit on their roster. So I took that recommendation as well. I emailed my package. Got signed and booked the first go-see I attended for a print job. This really impressed my agent and It wasn’t long before I started booking journalistic roles. I enjoyed all of it: modeling in fashion catalogs, landing roles in national commercials, television series and feature films.
Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
Back in 2009, Da Kink in My Hair was a new Canadian sitcom and the first comedy series on a national mainstream broadcaster that was created by and starring black women in Canada. So you can imagine how excited and determined I was to get a part on that show. By the second season, I had gotten so frustrated I demanded that my agent inquire as to why I hadn’t received a single chance to audition from all the roles she had submitted me for. The answer she got was “Dorly is too sophisticated and pretty”. Let me tell you, it took every fiber in my body not to throw a chair out my window that day! I was livid! Cue in Cardi B: what was the reason? What was the reason?! What was the reason?!?!?! To me this wasn’t a reasonable answer. It was basically admitting that there was no way I would ever get to work on that show. I eventually got over it and moved on but it took me a while.
It has been said that mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
A few weeks ago I did an audition tape for a supporting role in a film. I was pretty happy with my delivery. Right before I was about to email the clip to my agent I noticed I had applied only one eyelash. In my rush to meet the deadline, I had forgotten to apply the second one, still resting on my vanity table. The perfectionist in me wasn’t impressed. Needless to say, the tape was sent to casting as is. No way was I going to redo all this footage for an eyelash fail!
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
I recently wrapped a co-starring role in a romantic film set for release next Spring. I have a number of exciting projects coming up as well. One of them is Fellow Travelers; a new romantic thriller produced by Showtime, which I’m excited to work on this Fall. I’m also looking forward to bringing new characters to life in Season 2 of ZIK which is currently in early development.
You have been blessed with success in a career path that can be challenging. Do you have any words of advice for others who may want to embark on this career path, but seem daunted by the prospect of failure?
First thing I would advise is to be fully committed to the craft and be prepared to make sacrifices or lifestyle changes. If you are used to clocking in at 9 am and clock out at 5 pm and expect to spend the entire weekend at the beach, you’re in for a rude awakening. Zoom auditions, self-tapes, 10 page scripts memorized off book and recalls can be requested at any time and will abruptly change your plans on the day. During busy seasons you can receive anywhere between 5 to 7 auditions all due by a Tuesday deadline so there goes your long weekend! Therefore, if you currently live within the constraints of a rigid schedule or a certain level of comfort or lifestyle, fair warning.
I would also like to suggest that in this business rejection is more daunting than failure because most of the time dismissal is done quietly and so frequently that it becomes the norm. You can deliver your lines perfectly, you can submit the best audition tape to casting. Yet you don’t hear back even though you did your best. That’s the nature of the business. Be prepared to accept that. This is why tough skin and having emotional maturity are skills you either acquire or must put into practice.
We are very interested in diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in film and television? How can that potentially affect our culture?
Our world is diverse. Our screens should reflect that, period. Telling stories from one point of view only promotes the same stereotypical imagery of marginalized groups. Film and television are impactful creative mediums. Therefore the decision-makers sitting at the table; writers, producers, directors and talent should reflect and resemble the characters of these stories.
Secondly, we’re all citizens of this society living and breathing the same air. We interact with individuals from different backgrounds, experiences and cultures. Since 2020, some improvements have been made on that front, or at least the pledge of inclusivity and diversity has been made by industry unions representing cast, crew, producers, directors and even advertisers. More than ever, viewers want to relate to the characters they’re watching. You can no longer feed an intelligent audience the pretense of cultural integrity.
With good writing, storylines and plots, shows and films that illustrate a diverse cast are likely to receive higher ratings while attracting a bigger audience. Personally, I refuse to give any of my time to shows where diversity is non-existent. I had no choice when I was a kid. Today, I simply don’t have the temerity for it anymore. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one.
Thirdly, diversity is power. Hollywood needs variety just as badly as it needs actors. There’s so much talent, creativity and meaningful work that needs to shine and be celebrated. It’s empowering and important to applaud the influence, impact and significance we’re making collectively. We are responsible for teaching and inspiring the next generation of artists and creatives through inclusion, acceptance and truth.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.
1. Believe in yourself. It sounds like a cliché but you cannot grow, succeed and thrive in this business unless you’re cheering for yourself. So I recognize the power of self-love, self-acceptance and self-respect. I’m the first person who should have faith in my talent, abilities and gifts before I expect anyone else to acknowledge them. I’m the one that has to hone my craft. I’m the one that has to portray a believable character from a script. In the past two years, my confidence level has increased tenfold because I trust that I can star as a supporting or lead actress. My assertiveness has been noticed by casting directors to my benefit. Partly because I aim to manifest what I want and partly because I’m fearless in taking risks when presenting characters I audition for.
2. Feast or famine is not a myth. It’s a reality I’ve lived through many times and survived. I vividly remember going to the grocery store and having to choose between buying eggs or milk. I couldn’t afford both. So be wise with your finances and spending habits.
3. Don’t quit. Those who stay prosper. It’s a tough business to pursue especially when experiencing little to no progress. Bad days will come and go. Stick it out. The beauty about the film industry is that if you feel you must take a break from it do so. Make sure when you return that you’re hungry and ready to soar. Ten years ago I took a three-year hiatus from the business to open a designer boutique. Once I got that entrepreneurial obsession out of my system I returned to acting with a business mindset I didn’t previously have, thick skin and the confidence I needed to take my acting career to the next level.
4. Take up space unapologetically. Be fearless. Be you! Pursue your dream. Be all in. You don’t need anyone’s permission to create content or do what you must to succeed in this biz. A few years ago I booked a lead role in Whole Lotto Love, an independent film. Like me, the heroine was determined, headstrong and resourceful. This role catapulted me to star in subsequent roles in a supporting or lead category.
5. Mind your business. Building an acting career is a climb. There will be roadblocks, setbacks and even financial strain. Acting is my profession so I manage it as a sole proprietorship. Therefore train, research, collaborate, learn a new skill set and invest in yourself! Use social media to market or share your artistic projects. Network and attend industry events. Collaborate with other creatives. The film business is not just about auditioning. It’s a way of life.
Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?
Stay curious. This philosophy is perfect if you want to thrive: “I am a student of life for life”. None of us has it all figured out. The demands of the business change so keep learning and try new things. Even if you’re having a good run and booking every gig, you never know what next year, let alone a few months from now, will look like. We’ve all heard of the term “15 minutes of fame”. That’s how fickle the industry is. Stay inspired, inspire others, but also stay humble. Make sure to allocate time for your physical, emotional and mental well-being as well.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
Thank you for the compliment. I would like to inspire a movement to eradicate colorism. There is only one race: the human race. Yet there are casting decisions made primarily on lightness of skin tone — not necessarily talent. This is a debate that could go on for hours, so I will keep this short. The best example I can insert here is Zoe Saldana cast to play Nina Simone in 2016. The uproar that ensued on social media was epic. Harsh criticism came from fans of the High Priestess of Soul, the Black community and even the Estate of Simone. Saldana wore a prosthetic nose and skin-darkening makeup to play the singer in the biopic. While other actresses like Viola Davis and Uzo Aduba already physically resemble the icon. The film still went into production and, to no one’s surprise, flopped.
Like it or not, we see color. We also see opportunities for truth, justice and fairness but decision-makers choose to be selectively blind. Hollywood has had its share of backlash over erroneous, if not outrageous, casting choices for decades. Shadeism exists worldwide and on a number of high-profile platforms. There are countless stories of colorism that come to light eventually, not just in film and television but also in pageantry, the music industry, dance and theater. Colorism excludes and limits qualified talent from being seen, heard or rightfully placed. The problem is widespread but we can work collectively to end shadeism.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
My brother is my biggest fan. He’s been very supportive, encouraging and always cheers me on. I also have friends from high school and university that still motivate me to reach for the stars. One person, in particular, I must also acknowledge is my previous agent Rachel Neville-Fox who added me to her roster in 2019. She really inspired me to be and do better. She provided me with constructive criticism, uplifting conversations and reason to trust in her strategy to move my career forward. When she retired I was crushed. I was so sad to lose her as a mentor. I felt that I had so much more to accomplish with her guidance. This was the actor-agent relationship I had wished for all my life. She wanted me to succeed and she believed in me. In return, I wanted to make her proud. So, you really don’t need a big entourage at your side, one person in your corner is enough to make a world of difference.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
This quote resonates with me for obvious reasons: “there is no force equal to a woman determined to rise.” A while back I used to think this quote only applied to the wealthy, the celebrities or political figures. When I look in the mirror I see a woman who won an award for being a Role Model. I see a woman who was enlisted as one of Canada’s top 100 Black Women To Watch. I see a woman my younger self would aspire to be. I’m committed to continue working hard to get to where I aim to be.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-)
This past September, Tyler Perry attended the Toronto International Film Festival. I went to the conference of visionaries where he spoke about his new film Jazzman’s Blues. It was an insightful discussion. I didn’t get to meet him in person so I would love to have a private lunch with him. I have so many questions! He’s an accomplished actor, writer, producer and filmmaker. Not to mention the driving force behind a 300-acre film studio compound in Atlanta. I’m inspired by his story, journey and recent accolades. I know I will eventually get to meet him one day and work on one of his projects.
How can our readers follow you online?
It’s pretty easy to find me on social media platforms. My handle is @dorlyeanlouis. Thank you again for this interview. I really appreciate you allowing me to share my links with your readers!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dorlyjeanlouis
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@dorlyjeanlouis
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dorlyjeanlouis
Website: https://dorlyjeanlouis.com
IMDb: https://www.imdb.me/dorly
This was very meaningful, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!
Thank you as well, it was a pleasure to share my thoughts and my story with you.
